30 people die from hunting gun firings in Kapisa in a month

MAHMOOD RAQI (Pajhwok): Some 30 people have been killed during the past one month in Kohistan-1 district of central Kapisa province in firings from hunting guns, residents say.

They say there are no security related issues in the district, but people have bought hunting guns which they use for hunting birds and wild animals as well as criminal acts.

Shah Agha, a resident of the district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that there were no insurgents or illegal armed groups in the area, but hunting guns existed in every home.

He said latest hunting guns were more dangerous than Kalashnikovs. He said the guns were bought for 30,000 afghanis to 40,000 afghanis and could fire five to 10 rounds with each bullet containing five big iron alloys, a reason why a number of people were killed.

A day earlier a man was killed after being hit by bullets fired from a hunting gun, said Irshad, a resident of Shirkat Bazaar area. He said the same guns were used in criminal activities at night because the government was yet to ban hunting guns and people freely carried them.

A hunter, Hijatullah, said: “In the past one month alone, a number of people had died from bullets fired from hunting guns in various parts of the district.” He said most of the incidents resulted from personal enmities and criminal activities, but hunting guns were used.

Kohistan-1 district chief Abdul Fatah Shafiq confirmed several people had been killed in criminal incidents, in which hunting and other guns had been used. He said some of the perpetrators had been arrested and convicted.

“Hunting has a history in Kohistan and banning it will be a difficult task, but the issue will be discussed with people and security officials. We will ban guns which are dangerous and used in crimes.”